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UW-Richland literature students take part in World Book Night

Reaching out to encourage reading

5/5/14

By UW-Richland

On Shakespeare’s birthday, April 23, University of Wisconsin-Richland literature students were among the 25,000 nationwide taking part in World Book Night USA, a program that distributed half a million free books to people who are light or occasional readers.

Southwest Wisconsin residents received 400 books from students of UW-Richland associate professor of English Dr. Karen McLeer, Cobb. The students this semester are taking literature classes that focus on the work of William Shakespeare or Jane Austen. Books distributed were Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T.S. Simon; The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan; Miss Darcy Falls in Love by Sharon Lathan; and Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow.

Bestselling author Turow said, “I can’t imagine any greater compliment to a book—or an author—than to know his work has been selected to welcome people to the pleasures of reading.”

McLeer said, “These students consistently said that giving away books and talking about reading made them happy--really, really happy! I'm so pleased to see them spread that joy to people of all ages in communities throughout southwest Wisconsin.”

Jessa Stouffer, a student who distributed books to hospital patients, said, “I was able to meet several people and was even able to hear their stories.There was absolutely nothing that disappointed me in doing this. Many people were surprised that I was just giving free books away. Also many people didn’t even know about World Book Night so I was also able to tell them about something they didn’t even know existed."